National Republican., 1887-03-21
Edgeneid County, South Carolina.

COunty, ShFoiiuhs
Edgefeld county, South Carolina, must
lie O nice place for residence If the
Charleston Nctps and Courier is to be ac-
cepted as authority in regard to the con-
tlition Of affairs there. We extract from
that paper of the 10th instant the following
editorial:
FIE AT JUsTITIA!
The strong arm of the law is making itself
felt in Edgefeld county. On Monday last,
eight men were sent to the penitentiary from
that county, for terms ranging from one to
five years, for crimes of the most heinous
character Two men who had stolen some
live stock were sentenced to one and two years
respectively, while 7ipon four deep dyed viii
lsins, who had broken into Clubhouse and
stolen quantity of seed cotton, the trip-ham-
mer of Justice fell with crushing force, each OF
the four miserable wretehes being condemned
to three years of penal servitude. Another
miscreant, who was convicted OF stealing, was
sentenced to two years at hard labor in the
state prison, while in the case of still another
criminal the vengeance ofthe law was satisfied
by the imposition of q sentence of five years in
the penitentiary, All this goes to show that 1t
is not safe to steal live stock, commit grand
larceny, or break open gin-houses In Edgefeld
county. The men who were convicted were
colored, but 1t is clear that there was no dis
elimination in their favor on account of color.
The law does not take eogni2ance OF the com.
plexion Of criminal, and must be satisfied,
let the consequences fall where they may.
In passing sentence upon the EdgeGeld con-
yicts, the court tempered justice with mercy.
II might have made their punishment more
severe, but the lesson that was intended to be
enforced was that the peace and well-being
of society, the security of the herds of cattle
which Craze upon the rich pasture lands OF
Turkey and Hard Labor creeks and the sane
tity OF gin houses in which are stored away
the iieecy wealth of the fertile fields of Edge
field must and shall be preserved. The un-
mistGkable meaning Of the tindugof the juries,
and the judgment of the court, Is that the day
is past when criminals shall trample upon the
rights and liberties of a free people, and that
the strong shield of the law has been extended
over those who have been the helpless prey Of
thieves and vagabonds.
Mr.. Robert I. Jones, who was compelled, by
the force of circumstances over which he had
no control. to kill three men by the name of
Presley, and who was convicted on Sunday
last of manslaughter, has not yet been SEN
fenced. 1t is not known exactly what will be
considered a proper punishment for his pecca-
dilloes. He could be sent to the penitentlary
for thirty years. but 1t is probable that lex.
tcnuating circumstances will be pleaded In
his behalf. 1t should always be borne In mind
that the men against whom Mr.. Jones was
compelled TO defend himself were not EN-
traced under. the provisions Of the statute for
the protection of live stock, and, besides that,
the Pressleys are dead. Then. there is also an
other point to be considered in Mr.. Joness favor,
and point, too, upon which there is a strik-
ing difference between his case and that of the
four infamous men who broke into q gin
house and ruthlessly stole quantity of
seed cotton. The Pressleys, as already stated,
are dead. Nothing that the law can do
will bring them back to life. If Mr..
Jones should be set free, he could not kill them
again, for they are already dead But suppose
the four men who broke into a gin house were
-turned loose. There are other gin houses In
Edgefeld county, and the heartless robbers
who have been convicted of stealing seed cot
ton would be so emboldened by their escape
from punishment that they would doubtless 10
10 work aid cause perfect reign of terror
among the gin houses of the county.
1t will be seen, therefore, that there is moth
ing in common between the case OF Mr.. Jones
and the case of the thieves and robbers who
had been sent to the pcnitentiary, Mr.. Jones
has bt en- charged with an oilense against the
person, OF 10 ue more exact III btatemt mt, III
ofiense against three persons, while the eight
convcts VINO were condemned on Monday are
guilty OF terrible outIages against the rights o.
property. Whatever may be the fault Of Mr.
Jones, in the case of the conyicts the law mNs
be enforced. Our cows and our gin house,
must and shall be protected.
But the NewS and Courier, in its sarcas
tic denunciation Of Edgeheld county, doel
not tell half the story. A much worse cast
than that Of the peaceable and lawabldlnG
Jones, whose character on the trial was es
tablished as such by the testimony of Sena-
tor Butler and Representative Tillman
both residents of Edge6eld court house, IL
that Of s. ID. Zimmerman, who has been
tried for the murder of a negro boy II
years old, and was acquitted.
The testimony In this case showed that
the boy, passing by Mr.. Zimmerman
house, heard Mrs. Zimmerman playing on
musical instrument, went In and asked hel
TO play for him, which she did. Thinner
man shortly afterward came home, aud
being informed Of the circumstances, went
and arrested the boy, tied him with rope
carried him some distance from his house
released and shot him. The wife testified
thnt the boy looked impudent, but did
nothing wrong, and Zimmerman testified